Rating: Summary: More Words of Hope from the British Ally McBeal Review: When handed the original Bridget Jones Diary by a friend a year or so ago, I found myself enjoying it but certainly not classifying it as Great Literature. It took a year or so of thinking back on it (when repeatedly finding myself in situations similar to those in the book), and the release of the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, to make me realize just how cleverly drawn the characters are. A NYTimes book review last weekend noted that we can enjoy Bridget even though this book reveals that she is "not very bright", but I believe it's not dullness but fallibility that makes me, and apparently millions of other women, relate to her; Helen Fielding apparently striking the same chord as David Kelley did when he came up with Ally McBeal and friends. With Bridget, we get the added benefit of happy endings, which is always what one wants for a character one is relating to! This book is marvellous fun (and of course a terrific lift for all "Singletons" who have been recent victims of "emotional f--kwittage"), and felt like a fun-filled reunion with the characters who two years ago (I now realize)became life-long friends!
Rating: Summary: Hurrah for Bridget Jones! Review: So often, sequels fail to live up to the promise of the original. Luckily this is not the case with "The Edge of Reason" which is as good as, if not better, than the original.This time around, Bridget finds herself singing Madonna lyrics in a Thai prison, waiting for the dustbin to ring dressed in nothing but her knickers, and falling in love with a certain Mr. Darcy. More of a romance and funnier than the original, this one is a winner (v.v.g.)
Rating: Summary: Bridget Is Back For More Review: Bridget is back and she hasn't changed a bit, she is as hilarious as ever! Her best friends, Jude and Shazzer, are still around to offer comfort and self-help book quotes when things go wrong...and they do. Life is such an adventure for this heroine, from her daily life in London to a holiday in Thailand, she will have you laughing out loud. This was an easy weekend read and a real treat for any fan!
Rating: Summary: More of the same but fun Review: Just as fun as the first book but borders on unbelievable. You are less likely to relate Bridget's experiences to your real life experiences but very very fun. If you liked the first one this continues where it left off. Great vacation reading!
Rating: Summary: As good as the original Review: I couldn't put this book down--stayed up late 2 nights reading it--it's so good. After recently reading the original book, seeing the movie and watching the BBC Pride & Prejudice on DVD, I had to get this book, if only to read the Colin Firth interview (which Helen Fielding and Colin Firth "play acted" before she wrote this book). I was worried I wouldn't like this book because of the mixed reviews here and because the first book/movie have such a perfect ending. It didn't make sense to me to go beyond that ending (like writing a sequel to Pride & Prejudice). But I was pleasantly surprised to find this book as good as the original--just as funny and touching. And you don't have to be a Singleton to enjoy this book--I'm married but can still relate. The only hard thing, being an American, is understanding some of the English jargon. Makes me wish I had a dictionary of English slang or something. I can't wait to see the movie and find out how they will handle Colin Firth playing both Mark Darcy and himself. If you're a Jane Austen fan (as I am), this book has the same theme as Persuasion, though it doesn't follow the plot of Persuasion the way Bridget Jone's Diary has lots of plot points similar to Pride & Prejudice.
Rating: Summary: Much more enjoyable than the first Review: I haven't enjoyed the original 'Bridget Jones', but after reading a lot more 'chick lit' since then, I learned to appreciate Helen Fielding's work, and gave 'The Edge of Reason' a try. Authors sometimes try to replicate their original "hit" story line again and again (and again)until even their most devout fans are sick and tired of it. Fortunately for us, Helen Fielding hadn't done that. Not only did Bridget grow up - so did most of her co - characters, and the plot takes them to some exotic places, but also to some familiar ones.
Rating: Summary: Love being a singleton! Review: Bridget Jones is back with full force in "Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason", along with Tom, Shazz, Jude and of course, Mark Darcy. Giving us more insightful views to this Singleton's mind. She explores even more into the depths of her neurotic-ness and tells us of her frantic diary. Possibly even more entertaining than the first diary, which I enjoyed immensely... Helen Fielding writes with much gusto and female understanding that every woman is bound to relate to. And who wouldn't fall in love with Mark Darcy... perhaps even a notch sexier than the original version. Loved the new adventures that Bridget got herself into in this book. Edge of Reason isn't just for women, you know! This time, conveniently featured are international escapades including tropical islands, drugs and even prison!! Oh, and there is this bit about a personalized live bullet that causes quite a scare! And, I was happy to read that Bridget somewhat achieves her goal of "inner poise" at one point... although, she seemed to have landed right back in square one at the beginning of the new year. Loved being with Bridget for two years in a row... hope Helen will give us some more anecdotes of Bridget and her friends! Oh... and Rebecca deserved what she got, finally!! Love happy endings for Bridget and her friends! The sequel is longer than the first but seemed twice as short... can't seem to get enough of Bridget. Can't wait to see how Colin Firth is going to play a modern version of himself in the movie!
Rating: Summary: Unrealistic Review: I didn't care much for this book. I love the first movie, and was excited to read the book. However, all the library had was this one, but I figured I'd be fine since I knew the story and most of the characters from the movie. That was fine, I knew what was going on, and I enjoyed the writing style, but I found myself angry at this book more than I found myself enjoying it. The main flaw with this book is that it is completely unrealistic. I didn't think it would be a problem, but I couldn't connect with any of the characters because their situations were so farfetched. Another thing that made me dislike the book was the way Mark and Bridget "broke up" at the beginning of the book. There wasn't any communication so they just stopped seeing each other? Based on my impression of their characters, I would have thought that they could have at least talked to each other. Obviously neither wanted to break up, so the way it happened just seem silly to me. And not in a haha sort of way. Most of the book I found too farfetched and just unfunny. What I liked about the first movie was that Bridget was an average girl with relationship problems who found herself often in situations women could relate to. She's a sort of Everywoman. But here I couldn't imagine a lot of the things that happened actually happening. It was too much. This could have been fine if the story was funny enough, but for the most part I just found the characters annoying. I didn't like the plot with her parents and Wellington, the Thailand bit was too much, and Rebecca was too stereotyped and annoying that I just couldn't stand her even being in the story. So why, then, the three stars? I blame a lot of my dislike for this book in the fact that I read it all in one sitting. It's a lot to take. But the fact I did read it all in one sitting must prove something. It's compelling, even if most of the time I was annoyed. I didn't read the first, which would have made this one more enjoyable, so I think that had some effect on why I didn't enjoy the story. Also, this book does have some unforgettable characters and moments. When I'm not completely annoyed and want to smack Bridget and all her friends in the face, I'm laughing my ass off. Kind of funny the way I've reacted to this book. It's completely unrealistic and annoying, but it is funny and compelling, anyway. Also, the last star is for the Colin Firth interview. Hilarious. Although I thought she got the interview all too easily, in an of itself it was just too funny. Mainly because in that situation, if I had even be able to speak, I would have asked the exact same questions. My only question is, if Mark Darcy is based off of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, why is he never in a wet shirt in the book? Since of course I picture Mark as Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy (in slightly more modern clothes), I think that would have been nice.
Rating: Summary: Hurrah! Review: By the time I had finished Bridget Jones's Diary, I decided that I rather liked Bridget Jones, despite her endless shallow, self-centered, annoying whining about how horrible her life was.
So when I read this book, I was fully involved in her life, once again rooting for everything to come out OK, or at least not too badly.
This book is in a somewhat similar style to the first -- that is, like a diary -- however it is far more narrative. Because there is a lot more to narrate, quite honestly!
Bridget finds herself right in the middle of a classic farce, complete with misunderstandings, miscommunications, missing letters, missed planes, and plenty of misadventures. It was all great fun, while also being very soap-opera-like, in that you couldn't wait to start the next chapter because the last one ended with a cliffhanger.
I almost couldn't put the book down until I'd found out what happens to our poor heroine. Does she finally find the man of her dreams, or at least inner poise? How about spiritual epiphany? Well, I'm not telling; you'll have to read for yourself.
Rating: Summary: Bridget Jones; The Edge of Reason Review: Amusing and cute, but it did not live up to the first Bridget Jones novel.
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